diff --git a/MANIFEST.in b/MANIFEST.in
index 3d8965699874bf46a3d30349c1823c7b7f46cd45..ac43375f70795028f49c7ec03c3f66c0b8fecec8 100644
--- a/MANIFEST.in
+++ b/MANIFEST.in
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@
 #  pip install -e .[all]
 #  check-manifest -u
 
+# exclude CI/CD stuff
+exclude .gitlab-ci.yml
+exclude sonar-project.properties
+
 include .dockerignore
 include .editorconfig
 include .tx/config